Machine for attaching ends to wirebound boxes



Dec. 4, 1956 R, R|E

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING ENDS TO WIREBOUND BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1951 mmw@ Y Richard Rice. 'B @M4 mma' r fi A TTOR/VEYS R. L. RICE MACHINE FOR ATTACHING ENDS TO WIREBOUND BOXES Dec. 4, `1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 195],

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Dec. 4, 1956 R. l.. RICE 2,772,700

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING ENDS To WIREBOUND BoxEs Filed oct. 2o, 1951 4 sheets-sheen 3 INVENTOR. Hic/mrd L. Hice K, 'v gli' E, s; ffy/'Tf1 ATTORNEYS.

I DCC. 4, R, L R|CE MACHINE FOR ATTACHING ENDS TO WIREBOUND BOXES Filed Oct. 20 1951v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patenti-O MACHINE FOR ATTACHING ENDS TO WIREBOUND BOXES Richard L. Rice, Madison, N. J., assignor to Stapling Machines Co., Rockaway, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 20, 1951, Serial No. 252,261

3 Claims. (Cl. 140-93) This invention relates to machines for attaching the ends to wirebound box and crate blanks, for example, boxes and crates of the general type shown in United States Patent No. 2,281,908, and known in the trade as All Bound boxes and crates.

This machine is designed to cooperate with wirebound box and crate blank manufacturing machines of the type disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,161,200 and 2,304,510, to complete the nal operation in a continuous line of production of wirebound box and crate blanks by attaching the box ends to said blanks preparatory to bundling the blanks for shipment.

The machines referred to in the aforementioned patents produce wirebound box and crate blanks continuously at a rapid rate, thereby making the manual operation of attaching the box ends to said blanks one which requires considerable experience, skill, and dexterity, as well as a great deal of physical exertion on the part of the persons performing the operation in order to keep up with the machine speeds and maintain continuous production.

Heretofore, the operation of manually attaching the box ends to wirebound box blanks was performed by two or more workmen. One of these workmen, who was stationed at the delivery end of a machine of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,161,200, grasped the leading end of the box blank as it moved outwardly from the machine and, the instant its trailing end was free, ro-

tated the box blank on its longitudinal axis 180 and placed it upon a table with the cleated surface uppermost. Then, each of the two workmen, who were stationed at opposite sides of the table, proceeded hurriedly to position one edge of the box end by inserting the looped ends of the wires thereon through shallow notches provided in the cleats at each side of the box blank, and hastily inserted the ends of a hand tool into the outwardly projecting loops, bending them downward about the adjacent lower corner of the box blank and against its under surface, thereby securing the box ends in a hinged manner Y,

to thesides of the box blank. The assembled unit had to be immediately removed by the workmen at the offside of the table as the first workman simultaneously took another box blank from the machine, turned it over, and placed in upon the table. to keep up with the rapidly operating machines, the workmen improperly positioned the box ends or improperly bent the wire loops, producing a poorly made box.

As illustrated and described herein, the machine ern- Frequently, in their haste I bodying the invention has incorporated therein suitable u mechanism which automatically performs all of the manual operations heretofore described, with 'the exception of the operation of positioning the box ends on the box blank. The mechanism results in uniform and proper bending of the loops and thereby assures properly attached box ends. It also makes possible continuous production at high rates of speed, while considerably reducing the exertion and dexterity required of the, two workmen and allowing them more time for supplemental operations such as stacking the completed box blanks for bundling.

2,772,700 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 "ice In the drawings:

Figures l and 1A comprise a top plan view of a machine embodying features of the invention, a portion of the machine being shown in Figure l and the remainder in Figure 1A. The machine is illustrated as properly positioned to receive wirebound box blanks emerging from a machine which forms and perpetuates loops on the ends of the bending wires stapled to the box blanks.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l, and showing the conveyor clutch and the means of actuating it.

Figure 2A is a fragmentary sectional view on the same scale as Figure 2, taken on the line 2A-2A of Figure 1A, and showing the means of stopping the rotation of the conveyor clutch of Figure 2 and of actuating the loop-bending elements.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine as viewed from the near side of Figure 1, showing the source of power for driving the conveyors and also means to operate the mechanism which rotates the box blank.

Figure 4 is an end elevation as viewed from the lefthand side of Figure 3, showing more clearly the box blank rotating mechanism and also means for conveying the box blank to the end attaching mechanism.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper right-hand portion of Figure 4, showing the means for controlling the return of the box blank rotating mechanism to its initial position.

Figure 6 is atop plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the end attaching unit appearing at the upper left-hand portion of Figure 1A, showing the mechanism in position to perform an end attaching operation.

i Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6, showing the elements forpositioning and securing the box blank during an end attaching operation.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the end attaching mechanism as viewed from the left-hand side of Figure 6, showing means for returning the mechanism to its initial position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View of a portion of a box blank side section with box end attached, showing the loops of the box end securely bent about the outer edge of the box blank side section.

Figure l0 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit of the machine.

Generally speaking, the machine is divided into two units. The shorter or receiving unit, which is designated A, Figures l, 3 and 4, is positioned at one side of and parallel to the front end of the longer unit, which is designated B, Figures 1, 1A and 4. The machine'is adapted to be positioned with its receiving unit A adjacent and in alignment with the delivery end of a loop.- forming machine of the general type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,161,200, hereinafter designated C (see Figure l).

' From the delivery end of machine C, the box blanks (formed of cleats F and side material G) are successively received by unit A and each of the blanks is conveyed thereon until its leading end contacts a member which causes a turning mechanism in unit A to function, thereby rotating the box blank on its longitudinal axis through simultaneously projecting it onto conveying elements supported by the adjacent unit B. With its cleared surface uppermost, the box blank is immediately moved and guided at a suitable rate of speed whereby any interference with the next following box blank is eliminated. This rate of speed also provides ample time for the workmen stationed at the two box end attaching units designated E in Figure 1A, to properly position the box ends on the box blank prior to commencement of the several operations of the units E. The units E which are mounted at longitudinally offset positions at either side of the-out.-`

put end of unit B, include mechanism which is caused to operate when the leading end of the box blank actuates a switch. The units E perform the several operations of properly locating the box blank, clamping and maintaining it in a fixed position, and, after the box ends have been properly positioned with their loops extending through notches in the cleats of the box blanks, bending the expo-sed portions of the loops to secure the box end.

As shown in Figures l, lA, 3, and 4, unit A of the machine is stationed adjacent one side of and parallel to the front end of unit B and the two units are secured together by crossties 2 und 3. A longitudinal support bar 4 and a guide rail 5 support and guide the box blank as it is moved by a conveyor J-belt 6. Belt 6 is trained about an idler V-pulley 7 (Figure 3) and a drive V-pulley 8, the latter being keyed to a short shaft 9, whose ends are journaled in bearings 1i) (see also Figure 4) and positioned by stop collars il. To impart motion to shaft 9 in the direction of arrow 9A (Figure 3) a suitable driving corn nection between shaft and a motor 12 mounted on crossties 2 is provided, including motor V-pulley 13, drive tl-belt i4, V-pulley l5 keyed to drive shaft 16, V-pulley 17 also keyed thereon, V-belt i8, and V-pulley i9 keyed to short shaft 9.

With further reference to Figures l, 3 and 4, and particularly to Figure 4, there will be seen at the upper lefthand portion of unit A, mechanism for rotating the box blank on its longitudinal axis through 180. This mechanism is shown in Figure 4, and comprises two U-shaped hangers, each formed of horizontal base members 2l), and upstanding members 2l and 24 secured at either end thereof. The upstanding members 2l at the hight-hand side of the U-shaped hangers, as viewed in Figure 4, are pivotally mounted on pins 22 projecting outwardly from brackets 23 secured to support bar 4 (see also Figure l). To the inner face adjacent the top of the left-hand upwardly projecting members 24 of both of the U-shaped hangers, there is secured a short inverted angle member 25 which, in addition to its function in turning over the box blank, also serves to guide the movements of the box blank onto the receiving section.

T he lJ-shaped hangers are adapted to be rocked counterclockwise about the pins 22 into the position shown in dot-dash lines 26 in Figure 4 and partially shown in full lines in Figure 5, by means of a pneumatic cylinder 27 which has its stroke rod 28 pivotally secured to a rod 29 carried by short projections 30 on the base members 20 of the U-shaped hangers (Figure 4). The pneumatic cylinder 27 is pivotally anchored at 31 to a suitable bracket 32 supported by the oor and securely fastened to the frame of unit A.

To illustrate an operation of turning over a box blank, reference is made to the extreme upper left-hand portion of Figure 3 and also to the upper right-hand portion of Figure 4 where there is shown an electric switch 33 mounted on a bracket 34 fastened to an upstanding member of the framework of unit A. This switch 33 is actuated by a spring linger 35 when the latter is contacted by the leading end of a box blank as illustrated in Figure 3 to control a solenoid valve 27a (Figure l0) to cause air to be supplied to pneumatic cylinder 27 from air hose 3d, forcing stroke rod 2b upwardly, thereby quickly rocking the fabricated unit hereinbefore mentioned, in a countcrclockwise direction. The angle member 25 pulls down the left-hand side of the box blank, rotating it on its longitudinal axis about support bar 4, as indicated by le dash lines 37 in Figure 4. This action takes place so quickly that the box blank is thrown, as indicated by arrow 3S and broken lines 39, onto unit B, completing the rotation of the box blank through 180. The angle members 43 guide the box blank into proper position upon conveyor elements 45 of unit B, as shown by dot-dash lines 46.

A s shown in Figures 4 and 5 and particularly in Figure 5, at the completion of the operation just described, a short projection 30 of one of the U-shaped hangers con.-v

tacts spring nger 40, thereby actuating an electric switch 41 mounted onY a bracket 42 attached to the under surface of guide rail 5, causing the solenoid valve to reverse the connections to pneumatic cylinder 27, to withdraw stroke rod 2S, and return the box blank turning mechanism to its initial position.

Unit B, as shown in Figures Ll, lA and 4 is fabricated of framing members which provide an elongated supporting assembly including guide rails 44 and wide conveyor belts 45. To impart movement to said belts 45 in the direction indicated by arrow 47 (Figure 3) at a desirable rate of speed, asuitable driving means is provided comprising a V-belt 48 trained about a V-pulley 49 keyed to drive shaft 16 and a V-pulley 5l? keyed to the outwardly prnjecting end of short shaft 5l of a clutch member 52 mounted on the end of shaft 53 of unit B. Shaft 53 is rotatably mounted in bearings 54 and has keyed thereon the pulleys 55 on which the conveyor belts 45 are trained. At the opposite end of unit B the conveyor belts 4S are trained about idler pulleys S6 (Figure 2A) rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft S8 and positioned by stop collars 57. The stationary shaft 5S is supported by brackets S9 secured to the upstanding members of the framework of unit B.

ln Figure 2 there is shown the mechanism by which clutch member 52 is caused to engage and disengage shaft 5.3. This clutch operating mechanism comprises a horizontally positioned trip lever 6i) pivotally mounted on a pin 6l carried by a forked member 62 mounted on a bracket 63 which also supports a solenoid 64. The sole noid 64 has a forked arm 65 pivotally connected to trip lever by a pin 66. Normally, solenoid 64 is energized, thereby holding its forked arm 65' and trip lever 60 in a retracted position, against the resistance of a compression spring 67 coiled about the body portion of forked arm 65 and interposed between the head of forked arm 65 and a plate member of solenoid 64. When the solenoid is deenergized, spring 67 urges arm 65 upwardly, thereby moving the free end of trip lever 66 upward and causing it to engage a step 68 in contour of the trip cam of clutch 52 and thereby disengage the clutch.

Referring to Figures lA and 2A, there is shown means to deenergize solenoid 64 at the desired time. This means comprises a spring finger 69 which, when contacted by the leading end of a box blank, actuates an electric switch 70 mounted on a bracket 7l fastened to an upstanding framework member, and electrically connected to solenoid 64.

Simultaneously with the deenergizing of solenoid 64, the mechanism of units E are caused to function. As shown in Figures lA, 6, 7 and 8, substantial brackets 72 supporting this mechanism are securely mounted at staggered positions at either side of the output end of unit B. Since the mechanism and the performance of both units E are similar, it will be su'icient to describe only one unit E, selecting for illustration the one shown at the upper left-hand portion of Figure 1A and in the enlarged view in Figure 6.

With reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is shown, suitably mounted on bracket 72, appropriate mechanism to properly locate the box blank and to fixedly maintain it in the located position, and mechanism to operate upon the outwardly extended loop ends; all three operations are performed simultaneously, being controlled by the same switch 70 which controls the drive to the belts 45.

As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, a rock shaft 73 is supported by bearings 74 secured to bracket 72, and has rigidly mounted on the extreme end thereof (as shown at the left-hand side of Figures 6 and 7) an arm 75 which has shaped on its outwardly extended end a truncated wedge 76 (Figure 7) designed to it snugly in the V-shaped opening lformed by the downwardly inclined beveled ends of two adjacent cleats F (Figure 7) and properly locate the box blank. To cooperate with said wedge 76 in maintaining the box blank in proper position during operation of the loop bending elements, there is provided a pair of clamp arms 77. Said clamp arms 77 are fixed on rock shaft 73, and spaced apart a short distance. On the outwardly extending end of each clamp arm 77 is formed a hook 78. During the loop bending operation, these hooks 78 and the adjacent portions of the arms 77 forcibly engage the inner and upper faces of the cleat, thereby securely clamping the box blank and preventing any lateral movement thereof during the loop bending operation.

Figures 6 and 8 and particularly Figure 8, illustrate the means for imparting movement to rock shaft 73 and clamp arms 77. To the shaft 73, one end of a rock lever 79 is rigidly pinned and its oppositely disposed end is pivotally secured by pin 80 to a forked member 81 of solenoid 82, the latter being secured to the face of an upstanding flange of plate member 83. Closure of switch 70 (Figure 2A) upon the arrival of the box blank into proper position energizes solenoid 82. This forces forked member 81 upward and, through lever 79, rotates rock shaft 73 clockwise to the position shown in full lines in Figure 8, against the resistance of a tension spring 84 which is connected at one end to a stud threaded into the under side of rock lever 79 and its other end anchored to a stud threaded into a projecting portion of the base member of solenoid 82. At this position hooks 78 and clamp arms 77 engage the cleat F of the box blank. Deenergization of solenoid 82 allows spring 84 to rotate shaft 73 and clamp arms 77 counterclockwise to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 8.

Bracket 72 also supports a mechanism for operating upon the exposed portion of the loops of the box end wires extending outwardly from the box blank toward said mechanism, after the loops have been passed through shallow notches in the cleats. This mechanism is shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. It includes loop bending members 92, adapted to engage and bend the wire loops H which extend from the edge of the box end I and, for actuating these loop bending members 92, a horizontally positioned pneumatic cylinder 85. This cylinder 85 is pivotally anchored by a pin 86 to an upstanding forked bracket 87 of plate member 83, and the extended end of its stroke rod 88 is rotatably mounted on a rod member 89. At each end of rod member 89 are provided short end portions 90 extending at right angles from rod member 89, and rotatably mounted on studs 91 projecting from the adjacent face of loop bending members 92. To guide loop bending members 92 in a desired direction, a roller 93 rotatably mounted on a stud 94 of each loop bending member 92 is housed within a cam slot 95 shaped in the adjacent face of a plate member 96 fastened to bracket 72 and an upstanding framework member.

To obtain the desired bending of the loops as shown in Figure 9, each loop bending member 92, shown by broken lines in Figure 8, has shaped in its face adjacent the box blank, a throat 97, into which the loop H enters after passing through the shallow notch K in the cleat F as shown in Figures 6, 8 and 9. With counterclockwise movement of loop benders 92, roof 98 of throat 97, through a wiping action, bends the loop downwardly about the corner of the box blank, to the position in which the loop bending members 92 are partially shown in full lines in Figure 8. The supply of compressed air to the cylinder is controlled by means of a solenoid valve (not shown) which in turn is controlled by the switch 70 (Figure 2A).

Means for controlling the return of this mechanism to its initial position is shown in Figure 8 and includes an angle-shaped spring finger 99 mounted in the path of one of the loop bending members 92 so that as the loop bending member completes its forward stroke, it contacts spring finger 99, thereby actuating an electric switch 100 supported on a bracket 101 secured to the outer face of plate member 96. This switch 100 is interconnected with the switch 70 (Figure 2A) so that actuation of the switch 100 reverses the connections to cylinder (Figures 6 and 8) to retract stroke arm 88 and return loop bending members 92 to their initial position; actuation of switch also deenergzes solenoid 82 (Figures 6 and 8) and allows spring 84 to move wedge 76 and clamp arms 77 from engagement with the box blank, and energizes solenoid 64 (Figure 2) to withdraw trip lever 60 and allow engagement of clutch 52 to start conveyor belts 45 and move the next box blank to the mechanism of units E.

The electrical control circuit is shown in Figure 10. As may be seen in that figure, the switch 33 (see also Figure 3) and the switch 41 (see also Figure 4) are each single-pole, double-throw switches which are wired in a conventional dual control circuit in series with the solenoid valve 27a (which controls the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 27-Figure 4) across the power lines 102, 104.

Each of the switches 33 and 41 is of the ratchet type wherein alternate actuations of the switch throw thel movable contact into engagement with alternate sets of fixed contacts, with which the armature remains in engagement until the succeeding actuation of the plunger. Assuming that the two switches 33 and 41 are in the positions shown in Figure 10, when the leading end of a box blank engages the spring finger 45 (Figure 3) and actuates the switch 33 to its opposite position, a circuit will be completed from the power lines through the switches 33 and 41 to the solenoid valve 27a (Figure 10), supplying compressed air into the lower end of the pneumatie cylinder 27 (Figures 3 and 4) driving its piston upwardly and rocking the U-shaped hanger .assembly in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in broken lines in Figure 4, to throw the box blank onto the conveyor belts 45 in an inverted position. When the extension 30 (Figure 5) of the hanger assembly engages the spring finger 40 and actuates the switch 41 to the opposite position, the circuit to the solenoid valve 27a is broken and the valve is actuated to retract the piston of the cylinder 27 and return the hanger assembly to its original position as shown in full lines in Figure 4.

As also may be seen in Figure l0, the switch 70 is a single-pole, double-throw switch, two of the fixed contacts of which respectively connected to two sets of the fixed contacts of the double-pole, double-throw switch 100, the other two sets of contacts of this latter switch being respectively connected to the solenoid 64 (see also Figure 2) and to the parallel-connected solenoid 82 (see also Figure 8) and the solenoid valve 85a which controls the air cylinder 85 (Figure 8). Both the switches 70 and 100 are of the ratchet type.

When the conveyor belts 45 (Figure 2A) carry the inverted box blank to the position where its leading edge engages the spring finger 69, the switch 70 is actuated. This breaks the circuit from the power lines 102, 104 to the solenoid 64 (Figure 2), disengaging the clutch 52 and stopping the conveyor belts 45. It also completes a circuit from the power lines 102 and 104 through the switches 70 and 100 to the solenoid 82 and the solenoid valve 85a. This energizes the solenoid 82 and causes it to move the locating wedge 76, the clamp arms 77 and hooks 78 (Figures 6, 7 and 8) into engagement with the cleats F of the box blank to position the box blank properly. ltalso causes the solenoid valve 85a (Figure 10) to supply compressed air to the pneumatic cylinder 85 (Figures 6 and 8) driving the loop bending members 92 to bend the loop fasteners H. At the completion of the stroke of the loop bending members 92 they engage the spring linger 99 (Figure 8) actuating the switch 100 to the opposite position. This de-energizes the solenoid 82 and solenoid valve 85a, withdrawing its associated members from engagement with the box blank, and energizes the solenoid 64 to re-engage the clutch 52 (Figure 2) and resume the movement of the conveyor belts 45 to remove the box blank for stacking.

Since the stopping of the conveyor belts 45 which move the box blanks takes place simultaneously with the operation or the locating wedge 76, clamping arms 77 and loop bending members 92, the workmen must properly position the box ends and insert the ends of the wire loops H thereof through the notches K in the cleats F of the box blanks while the box blanks are moving. In order to allow the loops H to be fully inserted and to project beyond the cleats F at either side of the box blank before the box blanks reach the loop bending position, the guide rails 44, at either side of the section B as may be seen in Figure 1A are broken away at 44A a short distance ahead of the loop bending stations E. With this arrangement, and with the conveyor belts 45 operating at suicient speeds to keep up with the speed of the box stapling and loop forming machines, the operators can easily position the box ends While the box blanks are moving and before they reach the loop bending position.

With the operations of positioning and holding the box blanks and of bending the loop performed mechanically by the mechanism disclosed, it will be obvious that the work of the operators is greatly facilitated and many of the unavoidable human errors eliminated.

It should be emphasized, however, that the particular embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive or limiting.

1 claim:

l. Apparatus for attaching the ends to wirebound box and crate blanks comprising a support for said blanks, a movably mounted clamp adapted to engage said blanks and hold them against movement on said support, movabiy mounted loop bending members adapted to engage wire loops projecting from said ends through openings in said blanks, a rst motive means for moving said clamp into forcible engagement with said box blanks, a second motive means Vfor driving said loop bending members to bend said loops around a part of said blanks to Secure said ends to said blanks, a switch connected to control both said motive means, said switch being positioned to be actuated by certain parts of said blanks when said blanks reach the point where said loops are in position to be engaged oy said loop bending members and an electrical circuit connecting said switch for control of said motive means.

2. Apparatus for attaching the ends to wirebound box and crate blanks having side material and mitered cleats stapled thereto, said apparatus comprising a support for said blanks, movably mounted loop bending members adapted to engage Wire loops projecting from said ends through openings in said blanks, a locating member mounted for movement into the space between the mitered ends of adjacent cleats in said blanks to accurately locate said blanks so that said loops are in position to be engaged by said loop bending members, and a movably mounted clamp adapted to engage said blanks and hold them in such position, a iirst motive means for moving said locating member and said clamp into forcible engagement with said box blanks, a second motive means for driving said loop bending members to bend said loops around a part of said blanks to secure said ends to said blanks, a switch controlling both said motive means, said switch being positioned to be actuated by certain parts of said blanks when said blanks reach the approximate position aforesaid and an electrical circuit connecting said switch for control of said motive means.

3. Apparatus for attaching the ends to wirebound box and crate blanks comprising movably mounted loop bending members adapted to engage wire loops projecting from said ends through openings in said blanks, a conveyor for supporting and moving said blanks past said loop bending members, a movably mounted clamp for holding said blanks against movement, a rst motive means operatively connected to drive said conveyor, a second motive means for moving said clamp into forcible engagement with said blanks, a third motive means for driving said loop bending members to bend said loops around a part of said blanks to secure said ends to said blanks, a switch positioned to be actuated by certain parts of said blanks when said blanks are moved by said conveyor to the point where said loops are in position to be engaged by said loop bending members, and an electrical circuit connecting said switch for control of each of said motive means so that actuation of said switch stops the drive to said conveyor and initiates the movement of said clamp and said loop bending members.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,125,461 Rosenmund Aug. 2, 1938 2,131,971 Rosenmund Oct. 4, 1938 2,161,200 Rosenmund June 6, 1939 2,228,304 Florcyk Ian. 14, 1941 2,304,510 Rosenmund Dec. 8, 1942 2,307,219 Harvey Jan. 15, 1943 2,482,370 Rosenmund Sept. 20, 1949 

